Landing gear failure causes damage to vintage Cessna 120

Casualties unknown • Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield, Norfolk, GB

A landing gear leg failure caused a Cessna 120 to skid off the runway during a private flight at Cromer Airfield.

What happened

On 20 September 2003, a Cessna 120, registration G-BRJC, was conducting a private flight from Old Buckenham Airfield to Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield. During the approach to runway 18, a grass runway with a slight downslope, the pilot found the aircraft was flying too low and slow. Noticing a hedge and embankment near the runway threshold, the pilot applied power to clear the obstacle before reducing power for touchdown.

Immediately upon landing, the aircraft's right wing dipped, and the plane slid across the airfield, coming to rest approximately 80 feet from the runway centerline. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, but the aircraft sustained damage to its engine, propeller, wings, and landing gear.

Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue crack initiation at a corroded bolt hole, exacerbated by surface decarburisation of the steel.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2003-09-20 CESSNA 120 accident near Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield, Norfolk, GB?

A landing gear leg failure caused a Cessna 120 to skid off the runway during a private flight at Cromer Airfield.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2003-09-20 involved a CESSNA 120, registration G-BRJC, at Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield, Norfolk, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue crack initiation at a corroded bolt hole, exacerbated by surface decarburisation of the steel.

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